Indiana
19 drive-in theaters in Indiana where you can watch new and retro movies
We’ve entered the season in which humming cicadas, delectable snacks and sticky air combine to gift Hoosiers a favorite summer tradition: nights at the drive-in theater.
Nearly 20 such establishments still operate in Indiana, offering blockbusters and retro films while satisfying cravings for deep-fried munchies and all manner of sweet delights.
Find the complete list of drive-in theaters and what to know below. We offer the following advice: First, it’s good to have cash on hand. Some theaters only take cash while others add a surcharge to credit cards.
Check Facebook and the theaters’ websites for information on how to listen to the movie, when to arrive, if your dog can accompany you and whether you can bring your own snacks.
Happy movie watching!
Auburn Garrett Drive-In (Garrett)
1014 State Road 8 in Garrett. Check the Auburn Garrett Drive In on Facebook and auburngarrettdrivein.com for updates.
$10 adults, $5 ages 5-11, free ages 4 and under.
This drive-in is open once again after a storm damaged its screen in 2022. The theater has been a mainstay just north of Fort Wayne since 1951 and has changed its name a few times — from the Tri-Hi Drive-In to the Garrett Drive-In to its current moniker.
Bel-Air Drive-In (Versailles)
337 N. U.S. Highway 421 in Versailles. Check the Bel-Air Drive-In on Facebook and belairdrivein.com for showtimes. 812-689-5525
$10 adults, $5 ages 5-11 along with seniors and active U.S. military with ID. Free ages 4 and under. Cash only at ticket booth.
The Bel-Air Drive-In opened in 1952, and its traditions include slathering French fries, nachos, hot dogs and the like in Coney sauce made from the family’s recipe, third-generation owner Allan Chorpenning told IndyStar.
Centerbrook Drive-In (Martinsville)
6735 State Road 67 North in Martinsville. Check Centerbrook Drive-In on Facebook and centerbrookdrivein.com for showtimes. 317-831-1526
$10 adults, $5 ages 6-12, free ages 5 and under.
Watch the screen light up in the midst of a Southern Indiana landscape of hills and trees. The popcorn, fried mushrooms and funnel cake fries loaded with powdered sugar come recommended here.
Cinema 67 (Spencer)
2037 State Road 67 in Spencer. Check Cinema 67 Drive In Theater on Facebook and cinema67.com for showtimes. 812-879-4240
$9 adults, $5 ages 5-11, free ages 4 and under.
Named for the nearby state road, the drive-in is a community gathering place that serves up a menu of traditional favorites.
The IndianapoLIST newsletter has the best shows, art and eats — and the stories behind them
Georgetown Drive-In (Georgetown)
8200 State Road 64 in Georgetown. Check Georgetown Drive-In on Facebook and georgetowndrivein.com for showtimes. 812-951-2616.
$12 adults, $6 ages 6-12, free ages 5 and under. Cash only at box office.
You’ll find a few of those nostalgic window speakers along with a playground in this spot that opened in 1951. Enjoy the traditional drive-in concessions and an expanded menu on weekends.
Holiday Drive-In Theatre (Mitchell)
1055 State Road 37 in Mitchell. Check Holiday Drive In Theater Mitchell IN on Facebook and holidaydrivein.biz for showtimes.
$10 adults, $5 ages 6-12, free ages 5 and under.
Be sure to order a steakburger, cooked the old-fashioned way on a grill. If you don’t feel like a burger, try chicken, tenderloins, French fries, soft-serve ice cream or a fish sandwich.
Holiday Drive-In (Rockport)
646 N. State Road 161 in Rockport. Check Holiday Drive-In on Facebook and holidaydrivein.com for showtimes. 812-649-2857
$12 adults, $6 ages 4-11.
Just east of Evansville, the Holiday opened in 1955 and has grown steadily since then, adding more screens. The concession menu boasts all-American favorites, including double cheeseburgers, onion rings and snow cones.
Hummel Drive-In (Winchester)
2870 E. State Road 32 in Winchester. Check Hummel Drive-In on Facebook and hummeldrivein.com for showtimes. 765-546-8223
$10 adults, $5 ages 5-10, free ages 4 and under. Cash only.
After the Airline Twin Drive-In closed in 2014, Shawn and Pauletta Hummel bought it and gave it a new life. The couple’s purchase kept the decades-old icon alive. What to eat? Try a pizza burger or walking taco.
Huntington Twin Drive-In (Goodrich)
1291 Condit St. in Huntington. Check GQT Huntington Twin Drive-In on Facebook for showtimes. 260-356-2924
$7 adults, $3 ages 12 and under.
Look for traditional favorites like candy, hot dogs and mozzarella sticks.
Lake Shore Drive-In Theatre (Monticello)
100 Rickey Road in Monticello. Check Lake Shore Drive-In Theatre on Facebook and lakeshoredrivein.com for showtimes. 574-583-0311
$12 adults, $6 ages 4-12, free ages 3 and under.
The menu usually includes funnel cakes, breadsticks and other concession fare at the Monticello theater that’s been part of the community fabric for about seven decades.
M.E.L.S. at the Starlite Drive-In (Thorntown)
8721 N. State Road 39 in Thorntown. Check M.E.L.S. At The Starlite Drive-In on Facebook and melsdrive-intheatre.com for showtimes. 765-325-2230
$25 per carload admission.
M.E.L.S. — located between Lafayette and Indianapolis — has long been a staple in Mechanicsburg, with admission priced per-carload that lets you pack everyone in.
Melody Drive-In (Knox)
7055 S. U.S. Highway 35 in Knox. Check Melody Drive-In Theatre on Facebook and melodydrivein.com for showtimes. 574-772-2042
$10 adults, $7 seniors, $5 kids ages 5-11, free ages 4 and under.
Up in the northern half of the state, Melody has all the eats to satisfy. Make sure the double cheeseburgers are on your radar — they’re customer favorites.
Moon Lite Drive-In (Terre Haute)
5056 N. Lafayette Ave. in Terre Haute. Check Moon Lite Drive-In Theater – Terre Haute on Facebook for showtimes. 812-244-1275
Single-feature nights: $6 adults, $3 ages 6-12, free ages 5 and under. Double-feature nights: $8 adults, $4 ages 6-12, free ages 5 and under. Check Facebook for special showings, like retro nights.
Reopened in late 2018, this drive-in on the north side of Terre Haute programs nights with retro and single-feature showings in addition to the traditional two-film nights. Check their Facebook page for nights with discounts.
Skyline Drive-In Theatre (Shelbyville)
3986 E. Michigan Road in Shelbyville. Check The Skyline Drive-In on Facebook and theskylinedrivein.com for showtimes.
$10 adults, $5 ages 6-12, free ages 5 and under or $30 per carload.
The Skyline made sure to keep its 35-millimeter projector after it converted to digital, which means it plays selections from the past that won’t work with newer technology. Keep on the lookout for special events like August’s Super Monster Movie Fest. As for food, look for the handmade pizzas and coffee bar. Be sure to ask for a secret menu item, the sky pretzel, which is deep fried and covered with popcorn salt.
Starlite Drive-In (Bloomington)
7640 S. Old State Road 37 in Bloomington. Check Starlite Drive-In Theater on Facebook and starlitebloomington.com for showtimes. 812-824-2277
Double-feature nights: $10 adults, $5 ages 6-12, free ages 5 and under. Check Facebook for special showings, like free retro nights.
In addition to first-run movies, be sure to take advantage of retro movie nights, and look for a menu of drive-in classics, like nachos and ice cream.
Tibbs Drive-In Theatre (Indianapolis)
480 S. Tibbs Ave. in Indianapolis. Check The Tibbs Drive-In on Facebook and tibbsdriveintheatre.com for showtimes. 317-243-6666
$12 adults, $6 ages 4-12, free ages 3 and under.
The only drive-in theater left inside Indianapolis’ city limits has four screens and a reputation for friendly staff with good movie recommendations.
Tri-Way Drive-In Theatre (Plymouth)
4400 Michigan Road in Plymouth. Check Tri-Way Drive-In Theatre on Facebook and triwaydrivein.com for showtimes.
$10 adults, $8 ages 4-11, free ages 3 and under. Cash only.
Named for its location on U.S. 31 between U.S. 6 and U.S. 30, the drive-in opened in 1953. The woman who submitted the winning name received a year’s pass to the theater for her family.
13-24 Drive-In (Wabash)
890 N. State Road 13 in Wabash. Check 13-24 Drive In on Facebook and honeywellarts.org/drive-in for showtimes. 260-563-5745
$7 adults, $5 kids ages 3-12, free ages 2 and under. Or $25 carload of four or more. $10 carloads for Thursday retro reels.
Among the throwbacks this year are “Forrest Gump” and “The Notebook.” The theater was named before its 1951 opening for the intersection where it resides — State Road 13 and Federal Road 24, now called the Hoosier Heartland Highway.
49’er Drive-in Theatre (Valparaiso)
675 N. Calumet Avenue in Valparaiso. Check 49’er Drive-In Theatre on Facebook and 49erdrivein.com for showtimes. 219-462-6122
$10 adults, $5 ages 5-11, free ages 4 and under.
Have yourself an iconic Hoosier summer day by spending hours under the sun at Indiana Dunes National Park and then driving about 15 minutes to the 49’er Drive-in in time for nightfall. The theater opened in 1956 and played “The Seven Little Foys,” starring Bob Hope, as its first movie, according to newspaper archives.
Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Sign up here for the newsletter she curates about things to do and ways to explore Indianapolis. Find her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports.
The Protect College Sports Act, legislation meant to introduce and codify sweeping reforms related to college athletics, passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday morning.
It now heads to the Senate floor.
The bill passed out of committee by a 19-9 vote. Indiana Republican Sen. Todd Young voted no, his decision reflecting Big Ten concerns over the bill.
A spokesman for Sen. Young told IndyStar, “Senator Young hopes that additional changes can be made to the bill to address concerns raised by the Big Ten.”
Co-sponsored by Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), the Protect College Sports Act represents Congress’ most substantial success so far in a yearslong effort to bring legislative reform to college athletics. Since before the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders in college sports — including the NCAA, member conferences and schools, and other major players — have lobbied for national solutions to what have become state and regional problems.
Several pieces of legislation have been introduced across the last several years, only to fizzle long before reaching the floor of either chamber. The SCORE Act, introduced last year in the House of Representatives, gained some traction and passed out of committee, but was never brought to the floor.
Which makes Thursday’s news meaningful. Moving the Protect College Sports Act to the Senate floor, while not a guarantee of any outcome, potentially takes the bill past a threshold no other such piece of reformative legislation has yet been able to cross.
Cruz told Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger on Thursday that Cruz believes Sen. Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is committed to introducing the bill to the Senate floor soon.
The bill provides a legal framework for a host of potential reforms and protections for college sports. It grants limited antitrust protection to the NCAA, places limits on certain things including potential conference realignment, builds safeguards meant to protect non-revenue and Olympic sports, addresses potential broadcast rights reforms, and more.
It enjoys significant backing, and not just among leaders in college sports. This week, the NFL, its players’ association, the National Basketball Players Association and Major League Baseball all voiced their support for the bill.
Two key constituencies not in lockstep on the bill voiced their own concerns Thursday.
In a joint statement issued just after 10 a.m. Thursday, the Big Ten and SEC — far and away the two most powerful conferences and arguably two greatest power centers, full stop, in college athletics — suggested they still hold significant reservations over the bill.
“From the outset, we identified a set of essential revisions to the PCSA necessary for the long-term sustainability of college athletics,” the statement read. “We have worked with both majority and minority staff to advance those revisions, which focus on better supporting student-athletes and stabilizing the college sports environment. We continue to believe revisions are needed to secure our support for the bill.
“Despite our sustained engagement and good faith efforts, these critical revisions have not been accepted.”
The statement went on to note the “several Commerce Committee members that share our concerns and support these recommendations.”
Young is one of several members of the committee representing a Big Ten state, including one of three Republicans. He is the only Republican member of the committee whose state contains multiple schools in the conference.
Allowing for those reservations, Thursday’s news is still significant. It marks the first time a bipartisan bill on the subject has reached this point in the Senate and, should it be brought to the floor, it would be the first such legislation to reach that stage, in either chamber.
The bill could be brought to the Senate floor as early as July, though that timeline remains fluid.
(INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE) – The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission voted 3-1 Wednesday to approve a $71 million electricity rate increase for AES Indiana customers.
That is about 37% of what the utility initially requested and lower than a settlement agreement proposed in October.
Neither Gov. Mike Braun nor consumer advocates are happy with the outcome.
“My top priority is affordability, which is why I am deeply disappointed by the IURC’s approval of another AES rate increase,” he said. “Hoosiers have spent years tightening their belts and making tough financial decisions. It’s time for utility companies to do the same.”
Members of the commission didn’t explain their votes Wednesday. IURC Chair Andy Zay focused his remarks on the process.
“There’s a lot of eyes on this order and what we’re doing today,” he said. “What is before you on the floor is a nearly a year’s worth of work, evidence, deliberations, and considerations that bring us to this moment in this decision. None of this was taken lightly. I want to thank my colleagues for the patience and working through this amongst the auspice of affordability, which is certainly a hot topic now, as well as the resiliency, reliability that we see in this increased demand in electricity.”
The Office of Utility Consumer Counselor last year recommended that state regulators deny AES Indiana’s request for a $193 million base rate increase — instead proposing a $21 million reduction in current rates.
“The AES rate order issued today is an outrage and Hoosiers deserve better!” Counselor Abby Gray said in a statement Wednesday. “Governor Braun has made it clear that ratepayer affordability is a priority, far more than just a ‘hot topic’ as described by the chairman of the IURC today. This order fails the governor’s call to overhaul how utilities are regulated in order to lower bills for ratepayers.”
Gray’s office represents Hoosier ratepayers in regulatory cases.
“The order approves a substantial profit margin for shareholders in addition to a rate increase for customers,” she continued. “It even requires ratepayers to pay approximately $3 million to AES lawyers and experts.”
AES Indiana provides electricity service to about 490,000 homes and businesses in Indianapolis and some nearby areas.
The utility originally sought $193 million in rate increases. The previously proposed settlement agreement dropped that to $91 million, while the final, approved settlement agreement lands at $71 million.
Three IURC members supported the increase: Zay, David Veleta and David Ziegner.
Commissioner Bob Deig voted no. A fifth member, Anthony Swinger, recused himself because he worked on the case previously when he was on the consumer counselor’s office staff.
Ben Inskeep, program director for ratepayer advocacy group Citizens Action Coalition, said utilities across the country often ask for a larger increase than they need, knowing that regulators will disallow “roughly half” of it.
“The latest AES Indiana fuel adjustment clause proceeding shows AES Indiana is actually not only earning all of their allowed profit but over-earning by $19 million their return amount,” he said. “They’re already extremely financially successful at this moment in time, so it’s rather bizarre to even get an extra $71 million dollars approved here.”
Inskeep also noted that the increases will fall disproportionately on residential customers over commercial and industrial users.
Brandi Davis-Handy, president of AES Indiana, said the company has maintained some of the lowest rates in the state for more than a decade “through disciplined planning and a focus on efficiency. We applied the same approach here by working closely with stakeholders to make balanced decisions that keep the system reliable, limit customer impact, and align with the state’s energy pillars.”
AES said for a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month, the increase will be less than $5 per month per phase. Phase one rates will be implemented in July 2026 and phase two rates will be implemented in January 2027.
The final order says the utility “will not seek to implement a change in basic rates and charges as a result of its next base rate case before January 1, 2030.”
A new law, however, requires all utilities to file a multi-year rate case in 2029, though implementation wouldn’t happen until 2030.
Indiana
Indiana AG seeks execution date for death row inmate convicted in 2010 killings of two children
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita on Wednesday asked the Indiana Supreme Court to schedule the execution of death row inmate Jeffrey Weisheit.
The filing came just eight days after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene in Weisheit’s case.
He was sentenced to death in 2012 for the murders of 5-year-old Caleb Lynch and his 8-year-old sister, Alyssa Lynch, who were killed in a Vanderburgh County house fire in 2010.
In a verified motion filed with the state’s high court, attorneys for the state argued that Weisheit has exhausted all available avenues of review and that no active stay remains in place to prevent his execution.
The state requested that the court set an execution date 30 to 45 days after granting the motion.
“For more than 15 years, the family of these two innocent children has waited for justice,” Rokita said in a Wednesday statement. “A jury lawfully convicted Weisheit and sentenced him to death. That sentence has been upheld through every level of the judicial system. It is long past time to carry out the sentence.”
Weisheit killed the children during the early morning hours of April 10, 2010, according to court records. Prosecutors said he “hog-tied” Caleb and placed railroad flares in the boy’s underwear before igniting them and fleeing the home. Alyssa was also inside the residence when the fire spread through the house, killing both children.
Authorities later apprehended Weisheit in Kentucky after a high-speed chase. Court records indicate he threw a knife at pursuing officers before being taken into custody.
A Vanderburgh County jury convicted Weisheit in 2012 of two counts of murder and recommended a death sentence after finding multiple aggravating circumstances, including that both victims were younger than 12 years old. The trial court subsequently imposed the death penalty.
The case has spent more than a decade moving through state and federal courts.
The Indiana Supreme Court upheld Weisheit’s convictions and death sentence in 2015. His request for post-conviction relief was later denied, and the state’s high court affirmed that decision in 2018.
Weisheit then turned to federal court, filing a habeas corpus petition in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana in 2020. The petition was denied in 2022, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the decision last August before rejecting a rehearing request the following month.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case on June 8.
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